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By Doris Obinna
Stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to domicile the implementation and execution of all Zonal Intervention/Constituency Projects (ZIP/CP) in the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs (FMSDIGA), noting that projects valued at over N4 trillion annually are currently scattered across several ministries and agencies.
The call was contained in a communique signed by the Head of Information and Media Unit of the ministry, Hajiya Maryam Mohammed, issued at the end of the 2025 Stakeholders Interactive Forum organised by FMSDIGA in Abuja.
According to the stakeholders, the present arrangement has contributed to poor coordination, lack of technical expertise, substandard project delivery and slow implementation of constituency projects nationwide.
They insisted that all ZIP/CP should be returned to FMSDIGA, which they said was originally established by the Federal Government as the anchor ministry for the execution of such projects.
The communiqué stressed that centralising the projects under FMSDIGA would enhance transparency, efficiency and accountability, while also ensuring better monitoring and evaluation of projects meant to directly benefit communities across the country.
Stakeholders also underscored the need for constituency projects to be driven by genuine socio-economic needs of communities rather than personal interests.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, was quoted as saying that the selection of projects must reflect the real needs of the people and not the whims and caprices of community leaders.
He was represented at the forum by Hon. Stanley Ukuku.
Hon. Kalu reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to support the successful implementation of constituency projects in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The communiqué further reflected the strong position of stakeholders on accountability, urging anti-corruption agencies to intensify efforts to prosecute public officials involved in the diversion and misappropriation of constituency project funds.
Representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau were in attendance at the forum.
The forum commended the assurances given by the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Dr Abdullahi Bello; the Head of ICPC Constituency Projects Unit, Bello Idris; and the representative of the EFCC Chairman, Nwanyinma Okeanu, on the readiness of their agencies to pursue offenders regardless of status.
Security agencies also pledged their support, with representatives of the Directorate of State Services and the Nigerian Army, led by Brigadier General N. N. Gambo, assuring stakeholders of adequate security for all constituency projects to prevent theft and vandalism.
Participants at the forum expressed optimism that implementing the resolutions would strengthen governance, improve service delivery and restore public confidence in constituency projects as effective tools for grassroots development.
